Your Guide To Idaho's Guns On Campus Debate

Scott Graf
/ Boise State Public Radio

On March 6, 2014 the Idaho Legislature approved a bill that allows some people to carry concealed weapons on all of Idaho's college and university campuses.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed the bill into law less than a week later on March 12, 2014, despite opposition from all of Idaho's college and university presidents. The law went into effect July 1, 2014.

A woman who survived the mass shooting at Virginia Tech nine years ago is bringing her message of safety to Boise State University.

Kristina Anderson was in French class on April 16, 2007 when another student walked into her building, chained the doors shut, and started shooting at teachers and students. Anderson was shot three times. The gunman killed 32 people and wounded 17 others before taking his own life.

Now, Anderson travels the country telling her story and encouraging people to talk about safety in schools, businesses and public spaces.

This academic year marks the first that a remote Idaho school district will make guns available to trained staff members in the event that an active shooter is on the 300-student campus.

KBOI-TV reports Superintendent Greg Alexander says it can take 45 minutes or longer for emergency responders to reach the Garden Valley School District, prompting officials to buy four rifles, put them in gun safes and train a few staff members in how to use them.

The isolated Garden Valley School District has installed firearms in its only school building and trained staff to use them in response to an active shooter.

Citing safety reasons, Superintendent Marc Gee won’t say how many guns and safes were installed or where they are located. This summer, the district will post signs warning that the school building is armed and educators are prepared to defend against violent intruders.

Boise State University officials say they will change their on-campus event policies after facing a possible lawsuit from private legal organizations.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation and American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho had accused the university of violating the First Amendment after it charged a student organization security fees for a gun-rights event earlier this year.

University officials had already reimbursed the students $465 but they say will now suspend the policies that allow them to charge for enhanced security.

Boise State opens its home football schedule Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium. The game vs. Colorado State marks the first time fans entering the stadium will be required to walk through metal detectors.

The university has purchased nearly $200,000 worth of equipment to help beef up security.

Greg Hahn, a university spokesman, says Idaho’s recent change in campus gun laws led Boise State to make the move.

Police in Pocatello are investigating how an Idaho State University professor accidentally shot himself in the foot during class. The Idaho State Journal reports the chemistry professor's gun discharged in his pocket.

The injury was non-life threatening and no one else was harmed. But critics of guns-on-campus laws are pointing to the incident is a cautionary tale.

A private legal organization says they are willing to pursue all options with Boise State University after raising concerns how school officials handled a Second Amendment rights event earlier this year.

The Center for Defense of Liberty, a litigation organization under the Idaho Freedom Foundation, says Boise State violated First Amendment rights when it charged the Young Americans for Liberty more than $450 when they sponsored gun rights advocate Dick Heller to speak at the university campus in May.

On July 1, people with concealed weapons permits can carry their firearms right onto the campus of Boise State, and any other state-run college or university in Idaho. This state is the seventh to allow “campus carry.”

Boise State University has released its preliminary plans for implementing the state’s new guns-on-campus law. It and other state colleges and universities have until July 1 before the law goes into effect.

The update from the university came in the form of an email Thursday from university president Bob Kustra. He says the school is in the process of revising policies and procedures and that administrators have already made several decisions.

Starting July 1, students, staff and visitors to Idaho's college and university campuses will be legally allowed to carry concealed guns with a permit. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter signed Senate Bill 1254 into law Wednesday, making Idaho the seventh state to allow guns on campuses.

More than 200 people against a bill that would allow permit holders to carry concealed weapons on Idaho's university campuses protested Thursday in the rain outside the Statehouse. The group was made up primarily of students and faculty of Boise State University and the College of Western Idaho.